Law enforcement officials urged a Maryland task force Tuesday to boost penalties for identity theft and close practical legal obstacles to conviction.
Identity theft in Maryland is increasingly violent and linked to drugs, particularly methamphetamine, said Del. Doyle Niemann, a Prince George?s Democrat and assistant state?s attorney who led a panel of economic crime experts testifying before the General Assembly?s identity theft task force in Annapolis.
The group told the 18-member board that the state should consider all cases of identity theft felonies and increase sentencing guidelines. Under the law, those convicted of identity fraud in Maryland will serve, at most, five years in prison.
“He will literally do it again because it?s so inviting,” said Mark Coulter, a Prince George?s County economic crimes detective. “It?s like a kid in a candy shop.”
Prosecutors suggested lawmakers adjust sentencing guidelines to correspond with the amount profited. Under current law, an identity thief who nets $501 is subject to the same penalty as a thief who nets $1 million or more.
They also expressed frustration with laws that limit what types of documents can be submitted through affidavits during trial. Currently, bank and credit representatives must testify in person, adding transportation costs for prosecutors.
Michael Blackman, an inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said simply making possession of someone else?s mail a criminal offense would prevent a “snowball effect.”
“It?s common sense,” Blackman said. “Why else would they have it but for criminal purposes?”
Baltimore County State?s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said he would like to see the state invest in an educational campaign promoting practical safeguards such as locked mailboxes and paper shredders. A $500,000 program could save the state funds from just one case, he said.
Shellenberger said Maryland ranks 11th in the country in identity theft cases, with 82.9 victims per 100,000 population and 4,656 reported victims last year.
